Territorial Limits: Norfolk Island's Immigration Act and Human Rights
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Territorial Limits: Norfolk Island’s Immigration Act and human rights © Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 1999. This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Executive Director, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, GPO Box 5218, Sydney NSW 1042. Contents 1. Background to the inquiry 1 2. Norfolk Island - an overview 3 3. Immigration 11 4. Freedom of movement 23 Appendix 1: Submissions 41 Appendix 2: Participants 41 1 Background to the inquiry 1.1 Introduction Norfolk Island is situated some 1,600 kilometres north-east of Sydney. A former penal colony administered first from Sydney and later from Van Diemen=s Land (Tasmania), it became home to the descendants of the Bounty mutineers when Pitcairn Island to the north-east had to be abandoned. The resident population now numbers almost 1,800 and the Island caters for some 35,000 tourists annually, each staying an average seven nights. Norfolk Island is a territory of Australia administered by the Commonwealth and granted a significant measure of self-government in 1979. The Island assembly and government have powers far beyond those of the Australian states. They control not only what falls within state jurisdiction but also social security, taxation and immigration and settlement subject to limited oversight by the Commonwealth. The Island=s immigration regime is distinct from that applicable throughout the remainder of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth=s Migration Act 1958 has no application on Norfolk Island. Instead immigration, including immigration by Australian citizens from other parts of Australia, is regulated by the Norfolk Island Immigration Act 1980. In 1996 and 1997 the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (the Commission) received four complaints regarding the operation of the Immigration Act 1980 (NI). The main allegations raised in these complaints were that · the terms and application of the Immigration Act 1980 and associated regulations and policies constitute a practice which is inconsistent with the rights of Australian citizens to freedom of movement and to choose their place of residence within the Commonwealth of Australia · the operation of the policy relating to the issue of entry permits restricts the rights of people residing on Norfolk Island to sell their businesses and homes to whomever they choose 2 · the operation of the policy relating to the issue of entry permits discriminates against would-be residents of Norfolk Island on the basis of factors such as their age, employment status, medical condition and previous criminal record. The Commission decided to conduct a general inquiry into the Immigration Act 1980 (NI) and the complaints were deferred pending its finalisation. 1.2 The Commission’s functions The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission is an independent federal statutory authority established by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth) (HREOC Act). The Commission has specific legislative functions and responsibilities for the protection and promotion of human rights under the HREOC Act. In particular, the Commission can · examine enactments for the purpose of ascertaining whether these enactments are inconsistent with or contrary to any human rights (section 11(1)(e)) · inquire into any act or practice that may be inconsistent with or contrary to any human rights (section 11(1)(f)) · make recommendations to the Minister to remedy those infringements (section 11(1)(f)) · report to the Minister on any action that should be taken to comply with relevant international instruments (section 11(1)(k)). The HREOC Act specifically extends to Norfolk Island (sections 5 and 6). 1.3 Conduct of the inquiry The inquiry was undertaken to examine whether the Immigration Act 1980 (NI) and associated regulations, guidelines and policies are consistent with or contrary to Australia=s human rights obligations, in particular the right to freedom of movement and residence and the right to equality before the law. Submissions The inquiry was advertised in The Australian and The Norfolk Islander newspapers on the weekend of 12-13 July 1997. The advertisement outlined the terms of reference and called for submissions. The Commission received 15 written submissions (Appendix 1). Consultations In December 1997 the Commission conducted consultations and hearings on Norfolk Island. The Human Rights Commissioner met with government ministers and other officials on 16 December and with interested members of the public on 17 and 18 December 1997. These meetings were advertised in The Norfolk Islander on 29 November 1997 and members of the public were invited to make an appointment to discuss issues relevant to the inquiry. In September 1998 the Commission’s draft report was circulated for comment to the four complainants, the Norfolk Island Government, the federal Attorney-General and the Minister for Territories. 3 Major finding and recommendation The Commission finds, on the basis of evidence currently before it, that the implementation of the immigration regime on Norfolk Island violates the right of all Australians to liberty of movement and freedom of choice of residence without discrimination and free from arbitrary decision making under article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The Commission further finds that even an objective and non-discriminatory immigration regime different from that of Australia as a whole may violate ICCPR article 12 because it is not necessary to protect the Island=s environment or the culture of the Pitcairn descendants. The Commission recommends that the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) be extended to Norfolk Island and that the Island’s immigration regime be repealed and the Island government’s power to legislate for immigration be revoked. 2 Norfolk Island - an overview Norfolk Island is located in the South Pacific Ocean, about 1,600 kilometres north-east of Sydney and 1,100 kilometres north-west of Auckland. It is a small, isolated, fertile volcanic outcrop about eight kilometres long and five kilometres wide, with an area of approximately 3,455 hectares. Norfolk Island is a territory of Australia. It is administered under the Norfolk Island Act 1979 (Cth) which provides the Island with a substantial degree of self-government. Its current constitutional status and governmental arrangements derive from a complex and interesting history. 2.1 History Penal settlements Norfolk Island was uninhabited when discovered by Captain Cook in 1774. He claimed possession of the Island for the British Crown. The Island was first occupied by the British in 1788 soon after the first British settlement at Sydney Cove. The British established a penal settlement with both convicts and free settlers. That settlement was abandoned in 1814. The Island was re-established as a penal colony from 1825 until 1855 and then was again abandoned. Until 1844 the Island was under the control of the Governor of New South Wales. From 1844 until 1855, when the second penal settlement was abandoned, the Island was under the control of the Governor of Van Diemen=s Land (now Tasmania). From the time of the third settlement in 1856 it reverted to the control of the Governor of New South Wales. The Pitcairners Pitcairn Island was discovered in 1767 and named after the man who first saw it. Pitcairn Island is about 4,830 kilometres further north-east from Norfolk Island. It is about 3.2 kilometres long and 1.6 kilometres wide. It was uninhabited until January 1790 when mutineers from HMS Bounty and their Tahitian associates landed upon it. The mutineers had taken control of the Bounty on 29 April 1789 and sailed around the South Pacific for several months. They eventually landed on Tahiti where some decided to settle. However, nine of them decided to try to find another permanent settling place and they left Tahiti on 23 September 1789, taking with them six Tahitian men, twelve Tahitian women and a baby girl. They landed on the uninhabited Pitcairn Island in January 1790 where they set fire to the Bounty to remove all evidence of their presence there. They were fugitives from British justice and did not want to be found.1 4 The colony was discovered in 1808 and by then the colonists were committed Christians devoted to the British Crown. Conditions were harsh and resources limited for the growing community. In 1831 they consented to a British Government offer to transfer them to Tahiti. Twelve of the 87 died there and the survivors were returned to Pitcairn within months at their request. Food shortages, drought and epidemics on Pitcairn, however, soon forced the community to request the British Government to transfer them elsewhere.2 In 1854 the Pitcairners were offered Norfolk Island as their homeland. In a letter dated 5 July 1854 from the then British Consul of the Society Islands, B Toup Nicolas, the Pitcairners were advised that Norfolk Island could not be ceded to them but that for the time being no other settlers would be allowed to reside on or occupy the Island. I am at the same time to acquaint you that you will be pleased to understand that Norfolk Island cannot be ‘ceded’ to the Pitcairn Islanders, but that grants will be made for allotments of land to the different families; and I am desired further to make known to you that it is not at present intended to allow any other class of settlers to reside or occupy land on the island ...3 At a general meeting of the community on Pitcairn Island in 1855, a majority of 153 of 187 present indicated that they were ready to emigrate to Norfolk Island. On 3 May 1856 the entire Pitcairn population of 193 people embarked for Norfolk Island leaving Pitcairn Island deserted.4 The group resettled on Norfolk Island on 8 June 1956.